hapless

Hapless is an English adjective used to describe someone or something that is unlucky or ill-fated. It implies misfortune that persists or recurs, rather than a single isolated setback. The term often carries a sympathetic or rueful tone and can apply to people, animals, events, or situations that are repeatedly thwarted by bad luck or ineffective outcomes.

Etymology: Hap derives from fortune or chance, from Old Norse hǫpp and related Germanic roots; the suffix -less means "without." Therefore hapless literally means "without luck." The word entered standard English usage in the early modern period, around the 17th century.

Usage: In modern writing, hapless is used to describe protagonists or ordinary individuals who are beset by a sequence of misfortunes beyond their control, as in fiction, reportage, or everyday speech. It is distinct from merely "unlucky" in that it often connotes regular trouble or a pattern of outcomes and is frequently softened by a note of pity or irony. Examples include a hapless traveler who misses multiple trains, or a hapless character who keeps making the same costly mistakes.